Aquarium water conditioning device



Nov; 30, 1943. J. F. HALDEMAN 2,335,756

AQUARIUM WATER Coumnoime DEVICE Original Filed Jan; 2, 1937 Patented Nov. 30, 1943 AQUARIUM WATER, CONDITIONING DEVICE James F. Haldeman, Indianapolis, Ind.

. Uriginal applicationdanuary 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,741, now Patent No. 2,275,428, dated March 10, 1942. Divided and this application February 24, 1942, Serial No. 432,118

20 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to a circulatory, filtering and aerating device, suitable for aquariums and the'like.

The present invention is directed to a device of the I aforementioned general character and wherein the device is adapted for positioning in and mounting upon the bottom of an aquarium for withdrawing water therefrom, aerating and filtering the same, and then returning the withdrawn water in aerated and filtered condition to the aquarium proper.

The chief object of this invention is to pro vide a structure which is relatively simple in construction and which is positive in its operation, and which may be readily applied to an aquarium, as hereinbefore recited.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the construction of the respective parts whereby a compact and in some instances, an adjustable structure is obtainetl, and also an arrangement is provided whereby the device may be readily disassembled for removal of the filtering medium for the cleaning thereof.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a screen-for the intake of the device to prevent clogging thereof by seaweed, moss, and the like.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 118,741, filed January 2, 1937, now Patent No. 2,275,428, dated March 10,1942, and this application includes the subject matter of Interference No. 76,150.

Other objects and features will be more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to a detailed description of the several forms of the invention illustrated and described herein.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, wherein the filter structure is of adjustable character and the pump and motor associated therewith are positioned beneath the filter and the pump includes a coaxial and upwardly directed discharge, the filtering system being of the gravity type.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of a modified form of the invention, the filter structure, in this instance, peripherally enveloping the electric. motor and the filtering chamber being of separable character for removal of the filtering medium.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but of a modified form of the invention wherein the adjustable and separable character of the filter chamber is retained but the filter system is of the pressure supply type.

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation of a modified form of the invention, the upper portion being shown in central section.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, It indicates a sealed casing into which projects the bolts I I that support a stator structure l2. In a well 13 is mounted a rotor l4 supported by a shaft 15 rotatably supported by the thrust bearing structure it and extending through a closure cap I1 and projecting upwardly above the casing H3. The projecting end of the shaft l5 mounts a pump impeller l8.

A tubular member 19 has a curled bottom periphery 20 forming a support adapted to bear on the bottom of the aquarium. The tubular member nearest its lower end is provided with a plurality of apertures 2| constituting the inlet of the device. The tubular member is in spaced relation to said h'oles 2| and above the same is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 constituting an outlet or discharge of the divice. A cylindrical screen 2la is retained by bead 29 and prevents seaweed, etc., from clogging the device.

Rigidly mounted in the tubular member is and extending transversely thereof is a support plate or partition 23 with an upwardly directed collar 24 that peripherally surrounds the impeller 18 and with the impeller forms the pump structure. Bushings 25 between the plate 23 and the casing l0 serve to maintain the latter in spaced relation to the former, forming the passage 26 therebetween. The casing II] is of less cross sectional area than the tubular member 19, forming the passage 21 therebetween which communicates at its lower end with the apertures 2! and at is upper end with the passages 26.

A nut 28 on each of the bolts ll serves to maintain the aforesaid parts in rigid and spaced relation and also serves to position the stator to predetermined relation in the sealed casing l0.

Another tubular member 29 is telescopically associated with the member I 9 andits upper end is closed by a downwardly dished closure 30 having the apertures 3| discharging into the member and the curled and outwardly directed rim portion 32. The plate carries a depending tube 33 and a threaded member E l registering therewith. A tube 35 has its upper end threaded as at 36 and its lower end terminates in an outwardly flared portion 31 which is provided with a flange 38 bearing on the plate 23, the former being rigidly secured thereto by the bolts H before mentioned. Included within the telescopically associated tubular members is filtering medium 45. This may be of any desired material. A convenient filtering member or medium is a sponge.

When the motor is energized, the pump impeller I8 is rotated and water is drawn from the main body in the aquarium through the openings 2| and thence around the casing lo through passages 21 and 26 and thence through the neck 24 and upwardly through the flared portion 31, the tubular portion 35, thence the water discharges laterally and outwardly and downwardly into the semi-well formation formed by the closure 30. The water then trickles through the openings 3| in the plate 30, thence downwardly through the filtering structure and discharges through the outlets 22.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention. The same herein includes a shell 4| provided with a plurality of peripheral apertures 42 spaced from the beaded or bottom supporting edge 43. A cylindrical screen 4211. is retained by the adjacent enlargement and prevents seaweed, et cetera, from clogging the device. The shell is extended upwardly and inwardly in hemispherical form and at its upper end is provided with an inturned portion 44 comparable to the supporting plate 23, shown in Fig. 1. The same at its inner end terminates in an aperture defined by the collar portion 45. The motor 46 is shown in elevation and is supported in suspended and spaced relation by the bushings 41 and the bolts 48 and nuts 49.

Adjacent the lower end and below the apertures 42 of the bell housing, as it were, is a groove 50. A split ring 5| is seatable therein and detachably retains a screen structure having th screen portion 52, the peripheral wall 53 and the supporting base portion 54. Wall 53 is also provided with apertures 55. Included within the chamber thus formed is the filtering medium 56 in the form of the sponge, or the like, and the same peripherally encircles the motor.

Suitably secured to the aforesaid and by means of the bolts 48 is a tubular discharge 5'! having the anchoring flange 51a and the intermediate flared portion 59. Telescopically or rigidly associated with the upper end of the tubular discharge 5'! is the dished formation 58 terminating in a beaded periphery 58a and having the tubular portion 60 associated with the upper end of the tube 57. Mounted in the tapered chamber or rather the cylindrical portion thereof defined by the collar 45. is the pump impeller 61 carried by the shaft 62 of the motor.

When the device is positioned in the aquarium, the water in the aquarium is drawn through the openings 42, thence through openings 55, thence through the screen 52, through the filtering medium 56 and thence through passage 63 between the motor 46 and the portion 44, through the pump El and thence discharges upwardly through the tube 5? and into the dished portion 58. The water fiows over the peripheral edge 58a thereof, thus resulting in the filtered water, becoming aerated. This is a suction type of filtering system.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, there is illustrated a form of the invention somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1, in that the tubular telescopic Fig. 2 in that it is of an overflowing lateral discharge type. In Fig. 3 the numeral 64 indicates a tubular member open at the upper end and telescopically associated with another tube 64a, the upper end of which has secured to it a closure 65 with a central aperture 66 therein defined by collar 6! that extends upwardly an appreciable height. The closure 65 projects laterally beyond the tubular portion 64 and terminates in a rimmed edge 68. This closure 65 is of concave type and the water normally flows over the peripheral edge 68 when the pump is in operation.

Enclosed by the telescopic tubular members is the filtering medium such as a sponge 69, the lower end of which rests on the screen 10 supported by a collar H, the lower edge of which is flanged as at 12 and bears on a plate 13 carried by the tubular member 64 intermediate the ends thereof.

The plate 13 is centrally apertured as at 14 and the same is defined by an upstanding collar 15 constituting a pump housing. The bolts '16 by means of nut 11 support in spaced relation through the sleeves 18 the motor 19 positioned in the lower chamber in the tubular member 64 but in spaced relation thereto, forming the passage thereabout and a communicating passage 8| thereabove. The lower end of the tubular portion 64 is fiared outwardly as at 82 and terminates in a beaded rim 83. The inclined portion 82 is apertured as at 84 and constitutes the intake of the device. A conical screen 84a is retained by the head 83 and prevents seaweed et oetera, from clogging the device.

The water cycle is as follows: Water from the aquarium enters the intake openings 84, passes upwardly through passage 80 and thence through passage 8| to the pump structure. The pump structure includes the pump impeller 85 carried by the motor shaft 86 in the pump housing, as it were, 15. The water is then forced upwardly through the screen '10 and thence through the filter or sponge 69 and thence out through the opening 66 and over the closure 65. As it discharges over the rimmed edge 68 and returns to the aquarium, it is aerated.

In each of these structures, the motor is submerged below the normal liquid level in the aquarium and is suitably sealed against water penetration. The shaft of the motor extends upwardly and on the exposed end is mounted the pump which sucks water through a screened intake arrangement.

In Fig. 1 the pump supply is laterally dispersed, then passes through the filter and discharges to the aquarium, in Fig. 2, the pump supply previously has been drawn through the filter and is discharged laterally from edge 5811, while in Fig. 3 the pump supply is forced through the filter and then discharged laterally to the filter, in each instance, edge 32 of Fig. 1, edge 58a of Fig. 2 and edge 68 of Fig. 3 being positioned above the normal liquid level in the aquarium.

In Fig. 4 there is disclosed a modified form of the invention and the form which has been extensively commercialized. It is similar broadly to the forms previously described. In Fig. 4, numeral 230 indicates a standpipe construction comparable to tube 51 in Fig. 2, 23! a filter shell comparable to the shell 4|, 232 a base comparable to base 43 only of closed character. The two parts 23! and 232 are spaced apart and a screen 233 protects the intake of the device and thus prevents clogging of the device. 234 indicates an aperture in the screen 233 through which anaemic i projects portion 2.35,. the electrical supply to the device, the motor and pumpi-porti'onof thedevice being indicated by numeral2-36 and outlined the broken lines in the. screen area of thefigure, The upper portion of the device is, illustrated in vertical. section in Fig.4 wherein a filter chamber 2.31 has anopen end and includes a bottom 238 apertured at 239. A riser 24B is suitably secured therein at 2 and supports a filter medium retaining plate 242 at the upper threaded end 240a by means. of the tubular portion 243... locked by nut 244. Plate, 242. is apertured at 2-45. Tube 230 telescopically supports tub-e 1 2116 which similarly supports tube 24.?! having threaded connection, with riser 2410i The filteringme dium 248 in-the form of'a sponge or like is in cluded in the'filter chamber.

The water cycle is as iollows: Water passes through screen 233, thence through the pump structure: and tubes and riser, discharging therefrom onto plate 24-1. The water passes through openings 245 and after passing through the; filtering medium 248 discharges to the aquariu through openings 239.. For the preferred detail construction of this interior arrangement, reference is had to Patent No. 2,004,866, dated June '11, 1935. While the invention has been illustrated and described herein in great detail, the. same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character. The invention as thus described and illustrated, as well as other modifications thereof hereinbefore suggested, together withother modifications which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled .in this. art, are all considered to be within the broad scope of the invention; reference being had totheappended claims,

The inventionclaimed is: 1. A self-contained portable unitarystructure, comprising in combination, a base having an elec} tric'motor water sealed therein, a casing mounted above said base having a pump mounted therein, a vertically extending conduit projecting upwardly from said casing and adapted to besupported by and maintained in position by said base,

' and a receptacle surrounding at least the upper end of said conduit, said receptacle having a drainage opening at its lower end and being filled with a filtering mater-iahthe conduit pro-i,

jecting above the top of said filtering'material and adapted to deliver the water supplied through said conduit by said pump over the top of said filtering material.

2. A self -oontained portable unitary filter structure, comprising'in combination a base portion. an electric motor water sealed therein, a casing portion above the base portion and having a pump therein, a vertically extending condultprojecting upwardly from said casing portion and supported thereby, a receptacle surrounding at least the upper end of said conduit, said receptacle having a lower end drainage opening and filled with a filtering material, the conduit projecting above the top of the filtering material and adapted to deliverthe water supplied through said conduit by said pump over the top of the filtering material.

3. A structure as defined by claim 2, characterized by the receptacle and conduit, each being of two-part character, the two parts being telescopically connected together.

4. A structure as defined by claim 2, wherein a perforated plate is positioned above the filtering material and extends across the receptacle from substantially the side wall thereof to the conduit.

.5. A structure as defined by claim '2, wherein a perforated plate is positioned above thefiltering material and extends across the receptacle from substantiallythe side Wall thereof to the conduit, the receptacle and conduit each being of twopart character, the two parts being telescopically connected together and the perforated plate being rigid with each.

6. A self-contained-iportable unitary structure, comprising incombination a base portion havingv ascreened intakeintothe same, an electric motor water sealed therein, a pump chamber forming casing portion supported. by the base portion and having an upwardly directed discharge, a pump inthe chamber operable by said electric motor, a filter material receiving receptacle there-* above andsupported by the base portion, the pump casing and receptacle having communication for water series flow therethrough and the filtering material in the receptacle, the pump chamber discharging to the receptacle through a-foraminated-li=ke means across the receptacle.

7. .A structure as defined by claim 6, characterized by the receptacle being of two-part adjustable character, the two parts being telescopically connected together for receptacle size adjustment.

8. A structure as defined by claim 6, wherein a vertical conduit is interposed between the recep tacleand the pump casing portion and has its lower end connected to the latter.

.9. A structure as defined by claim 6., wherein a vertical conduit is interposed between the. receptacle, and the pump casing portion and hasits lower end connected to the latter, the conduitand receptacle each being .of two-part character, the two parts being telescopically connected together.

'10. .A structure as defined by claim 6, wherein a vertical conduit is interposed between the receptacle and the pump casing portion and has its lower end connected to the latter, the conduit and receptacle each being of two-part character, the two parts being telescopically connected together, the foraminated-like means being rigid 11 with the one of movable parts of each of the receptacle and conduit. v

ll. A self-contained portable unitary structure, comprising in combination a base portion, a screened intake into same, a water sealed electric motor in the base portion, a pump casing portion, a pump therein and above and supported-by the base'portion'and operable by said electric motor, a vertically directed conduit supported by the pump casing portion, a filter chamber carried by the base portion, filtering material in said chainberand to which said conduit discharges, and an outlet from the chamber, pumpage passing through the material to the outlet for discharge.

12. A self-contained and self-sustaining portable unitary, circulatory filtering and aerating structure for aquariums and the like, including in combination a base portion having a laterally directed screened opening into the same near the battom thereof for intake purposes, a water sealed electric motor within the base portion, a pump chamber open at its lower end to the base portion and discharging upwardly, a pump in said chamber and operable by said electric motor, a filtering chamber portion, an outlet therefrom, and filtering material in the filtering chamber, the pumpage passing through the material to the outlet for filtering purposes.

13. A structure as defined by claim 12, wherein a filter material retaining member is provided at the upper end of the filtering chamber, said filter able unitary, circulatory filtering and aerating structure for aquariums and the like, including in combination a base portion having a laterally directed screened opening near the bottom for intake purposes, a water sealed electric motor within the base portion, a pump chamber open at its lower end to the base portion and discharging upwardly, a pump in said chamber, said electric motor operating said pump, a filtering chamber portion substantially thereabove and adapted to receive pump discharge and havin filtering material therein, the pump discharge passing through the latter for filtering purposes, the pump forcing the water upwardly through the filtering material.

17. A self-contained and self-sustaining portable unitary, circulatory filtering and aerating structure for aquariums an the like, including in combination a base portion having a laterally directed screened opening near the bottom for intake purposes, a water sealed electric motor within the base portion, a pump chamber open at its lower end to the base portion and discharge ing upwardly, a pump in said chamber said electric motor operating said pump, a filteringchamber portion substantially thereabove and adapted to receive pump discharge and having filtering material therein, the pump discharge passing through the latter for filtering purposes, the pump discharging to a vertical conduit extending upwardly from the pump chamber and terminating above the filtering material in its chamber, said conduit delivering the water thereto over the top of the material.

18. A self-contained and self-sustaining portable unitary, circulatory filtering and aerating structure for aquarium and the like, including in combination a base portion having a laterally directed screened openin near the bottom for intake purposes, a water sealed electric motor within the base portion, a pump chamber open at its lower end to the base portion and discharging upwardly, a pump in said chamber said electric motor operating said pump, a filtering cham-- ber portion substantially thereabove and adapted to receive pump discharg and having filtering material therein, the pump discharge passing through the latter or filtering purposes, the pump discharging to a vertical conduit extending upwardly from the pump chamber and terminating above the filtering material in its chamber, said conduit delivering the water thereto over the top of the material, and foraminated means for retaining the material in its chamber and distributing the conduit discharge over the top thereof.

19. A self-contained and self-sustaining portable unitary, circulatory filtering and aerating structure for aquariums and the like, including in combination a base portion having a laterally directed screened opening near the bottom for intake purposes, a water sealed electric motor within the base portion, a pump chamber open at its lower end to the base portion and discharging upwardly, a pump in said chamber said electric motor operating said pump, a filtering chamber portion substantially thereabove and adapted to receive pump dischargeand having filtering material therein, the pump discharge passing through the latter for filtering purposes, the pump discharging to a vertical conduit extendin upwardly from the pump chamber and terminating above the filtering material in its chamber, said conduit delivering the water thereto over the top of the material, the pump and motor havin a common shaft and in coaxial alignment and aligned with the conduit.

20. A self-contained and self-sustaining portable unitary, circulatory filtering and aerating structure for aquariums and the like, including in combination a base portion having a laterally directed screened opening near the bottom for intake purposes, a water sealed electric motor within the base portion, a pump chamber open at its lower end to the base portion and dis-, charging upwardly, a pump in said chamber said electric motoroperating said pump, a filtering chamber portion substantially thereabove and adapted to receive. pump discharge and having filtering material therein, the pump discharge passing through the latter for filtering purposes, the pump discharging to a vertical conduit extending upwardly from the pump chamber and terminating above the filtering material in its chamber, said conduit delivering the Water thereto over the top of the material, the filtered water discharging from the bottom portion of the filter material containing chamber.

. JAMES F. HALDEMAN. 

